Free Sugar Rush by Rachel Astor Page A

for your candy, Dulcie.”
    Dulcie tried not to think about the way Jess emphasized the word your as she walked back into the shop.

Chapter Seven
     
    Nick stood outside the glass door, staring at the neon sign. For neon, it had an enormous amount of charm. There was not a bit of neon anywhere near How Sweet It Is, and somehow this felt homier.
    Scents of homemade goodness wafted around him, and all the way down the block.
    He took a deep breath, clenching and unclenching his hands.
    He pushed open the door.
    She was walking into the shop from the kitchen, a sadness reaching her eyes.
    “Hi,” Nick said, trying a smile, holding out the single pink rose he’d brought for her. He thought he detected a hint of her expression softening as she looked at it.
    “What are you doing here?” Dulcie asked.
    “Hello to you, too,” Nick said, his expression never faltering. If there was one thing he’d learned, his smile seemed to give him the best chance with the ladies.
    One of the girls from the other night cleared her throat behind the counter.
    Dulcie looked up, startled. “Oh, uh, thanks, Ava. You may as well take off. I’ll close up.” She turned to Nick. Her hint she was ready to leave was less than subtle.
    “Have a nice night,” Ava said, giving Nick a sideways glance.
    “So, uh, I guess congratulations are in order?” he said, handing her the rose.
    She took it, breathing it in and looking at it for a long time, before crinkling her brow. “For what?”
    “For all your new flavors. Did you hire a cook or something?” He hated that he’d been wondering all day, but his nerves, or more accurately, his father’s sour attitude, had kept him away.
    She squinted. “No, we did not,” she said.
    He raised his eyebrows, surprised. “Oh, that’s great. I’m glad you guys are able to come up with some new stuff. I’m always telling Dad we should try new things, but he keeps saying we’re too busy, our customers come for our specialties.”
    “Uh huh,” she replied, setting the rose on the counter.
    His eyes followed her movements. “Guess I’ll have to try to convince him again, though, what with all the success you had today with your new flavors.”
    She put one hand on her hip. “How do you know what today was like for us?” she asked, tilting her head.
    “You’re all over the food blogs. People can’t stop talking about you. Honestly, I’m a little worried. Urban Fork went on and on about some kind of cookie dough thing. If you guys keep coming out with new stuff all the time, your shop is going to start outselling ours.” He finished with a little nervous chuckle.
    “Maybe we will,” she said, but she still didn’t smile.
    “So, uh, any of the new stuff left? After all I read, I’ve got to try your specialties.”
    Her face got red. “No. There’s nothing left, so if you’ll excuse me, I’ve had a long day. I’d like to clean up and go home. I need to be back in early.”
    He ran his hands through his hair. Her eyes followed the motion and a sense of hope bubbled up inside him. “Right, yeah. Well, I just wanted to say congratulations, and wish you luck with the Taste of the Year. I assume you’ve found something different for the competition?”
    She raised one eyebrow. “What makes you say that? You were here when we taste tested.”
    “Yeah, but I figured now with the new recipes and everything, you must have something up your sleeve.” He chuckled. “Once I started reading the blogs today, I almost got paranoid you were trying to mess with me. Make me think you had nothing, while all that time hiding the real thing.”
    Her mouth dropped. “Are you kidding? What kind of person do you think I am?”
    He opened his mouth to say something, but she cut him off.
    “I do not have time to play mind games. I was stupid enough to think you were sincere when you came over here with those to-die-for cupcakes, but I can see now you just wanted to snoop around, hoping to get an edge up